Thursday, October 27, 2005

Maggi noodles are the best. It all started in boarding school at Sanawar when we hated eating the dreaded school food. Since we weren’t allowed any electric heaters in the dorms, we used to pour a little water (sometimes hot, but mostly cold) straight from the tap into the packet, mix it up a bit and eat it with great relish. I swear, it tasted better than the food at the Central Dining Hall.

I find I am addicted to Maggi noodles, again. It started during the days of the flood in July, when we were running out of fresh food and now I find myself forgoing fresh food in favor of the little yellow packet of Maggi noodles. And yes, the new green, healthy wheat version is not as much fun.

Friday, October 21, 2005

What is the defination of fame? Is it when your name appears in the front page of newspapers or on the third? Is it when you are known in your area or all around the world? My ultimate definition of fame is when your name appears as a clue on a crossword puzzle.

I had called the Kasauli Club some time back and was absolutely awed when the office staff knew who I was, and recognized me immediately as so-and-so's daughter, who lives in Bombay and before that in Bangalore. It was unexpectedly thrilling to be recognized even though it is my father he recognized and me only throught him.

I order most of my groceries over the phone from a store barely 50 meters down the road. Initially, the chap there knew where to deliver the stuff once I said the magic words "Kellogg's Wheat Flakes" (It seems we are the only ones buying them). Immediately he would butt in and say my address. Now, its come to the stage that no matter what I order, he knows where to send it.

We've usually not stayed in a place long enough to form these routines with vendors, but in a city like Bombay its the most important thing to do.

Monday, October 17, 2005

All our progress is an unfolding, like the vegetable bud. You first have an instinct, then an opinion, then a knowledge, as the plant has root, bud, and fruit. Trust the instinct to the end, though you can render no reason. It is vain to hurry it. By trusting it to the end, it shall ripen into truth, and you shall know why you believe.

Wednesday, October 12, 2005

Yay, the monsoon is finally over. No more flooded roads. Instead we have dug up roads. BMC has decided to concretize every second road in Lokhandwala. The problem is that they are digging up the good roads, the ones that were perfectly good to start with while the bad ones are still waiting to get you and your car.

The traffic has been absolutely crazy in Lokhandwala with the Durga Puja pandals and melas. A stretch of road that takes us 10 minutes to walk, took 45 minutes in the car last night. We drove to Naturals for some ice cream last night, reaching there after the closing time due to the traffic, but miraculously it was still open. As we stepped out of the car, a couple with a young boy approached my husband asking for some money, as they had not eaten all day and had no money to even go back home to Nagpur. They both had an earnest look to them, almost embarrassed to be asking strangers, so we gave them our ice cream money and returned home. We weren't sure if we actually helped by giving them money or gave them the wrong impression about people in a big city, that it pays to ask strangers for money. We hope its the former.

Saturday, October 08, 2005

"One cannot divine nor forecast the conditions that will make happiness; one only stumbles upon them by chance, in a lucky hour; at the world's end somewhere, and holds fast to the days, as to fortune or fame."

in the header

About Me

I am a writer and researcher specializing in retail and travel, who loves to travel, be creative, take photographs, read and solve puzzles, in essence a curious mind. I live in Dubai with my husband and baby girl, who is the absolute joy of our lives.